Adjustable yoke for ceiling bands



Fd 8 w. A. sPo'r-r ADJUSTABLE YOKE) FOR CEILING' B'ANDS Filed Feb.- v,1924 INVENToR.

Wzl/@MA ATToRNEY.-.

Patented Feb'. "s, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. SPOTT, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

ADJUSTABLE YOKE FOR CEILING BANDS.

Application led February 7, 1924. Serial No. 691,204.

This inventionA relates generally to supports for electric lightfixtures, and particularly to an adjustable yokefor supporting a ceilingband or like globe or shade supporting element from a junction box, pau

or like fixture hanger.

The main object of the invent-ion is to provide an adjustable yoke whichmay be employed for supporting ceiling bands of-different sizes from ajunction box or pan ot any prescribed size, thus enabling acomparatively small sized junctionjbox or pan to be used for supportingceiling bands which may vary materially in size therefrom, and

whereby the necessity of employing a junction box of a particularspecified size in connection with a ceiling band of a particularspecified size is avoided. y

A further ob 'ect of the invention is to provide an adjustable yokewhich is simple of construction, capable of use in connection withjunction boxes and ceiling bands of conventional type without changingthe construction thereof, and which is readily and convenientlyapplicable for use for supporting the ceiling band in a firm and securemanner from the `junction box and fixture stem'.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, ,hereinafter fully described and claimed,reference being had to the' accompanying drawing, in which 'Figure 1 is.a central vertical section 435 through a junction box and a ceiling bandsupported from the junction box by my improved adjustable yoke.

Figure 2 is a horizontal 2--2 of Figure 1.

4 Fi re 3 is a perspective view of the adjusta le yoke, showing' one ofthe extension pieces removed and disposed in proper relative positionfor application. v-

Referring nowV `more particularlyl -to the drawing, 1 designatesa'junction box, pan

or like' fixture support adapted to be titte in section on the line aceiling opening and secured in position in j any usual way. Carried bythis junction box or pany 1 is a fixture supporting stem -2, 5- which asshown vin the present instance is externally threaded at its ylower endand internally threaded atl its upper end, the latter-named'r end ofthestem engaging the nipple of an anchor frogo fastened to the u top wallof the junction x or pan. 4 desgnates a ceiling band of any approvedform prises a ingdiametrically across the open base of the.

As-is well known,V the general practice is to provide the lower edge ofthe box 1 at dametrically opposite sides with portions displaced or bentinwardly to provide fasten' ing lugs. said lugs having internallythreaded openings to receive the screws 8, whereby the ceiling band Visfastened thereto. This requires that a fixed size of'ceiling band bc'ing employed in connection with a fixed size ,of junction box or pan inorder that -the openings in the pan and lugs kof the band may directlyregister for the reception ci? the .screws 8.' Unless these parts areaccurately formed it is difiicult to make a convenient connection andany slight displacement of the parts, throwing them out o register,causes loss of time and difiiculty in uniting the parts together. It isalso difficult at times to secure' junction boxes and ceiling bands ofthe specified sizes required, and the use of a specified-size of bandwith a specified size of junction box requires Vthe carrying in stock ofdifferent sizes of junction boxes, with .resultant inconvenience andtrouble in handling and taking care of stock and a considerable increasein overhead cost to the electrical contractor or fixture hanger in beingrequired to keep different sizes of matching pairs of fixture elements.j

In order to overcomelthese objections and difiiculties, I provide anadjustable yoke 9 of novel construction whereby ceiling bands ofdifferent sizes, within wide limits, may

. be securedto a junctionvbox or pan of a sin- 'gle given size. Asshown, this yoke'9 comfiat or substantially flat bar extendbox 1,said'yoke consisting of a stationary central section 1() and twoextension arms or sections 11 of like construction. The central section10 consists of a. metal plate having an annular or ring-shaped bodyportion' fao provided with the opening v12 and laterally extending fixedarms 13. `The operng- 12 adapts the yoke to be fitted on the fixturestem 2 which extends downwardly therethrough and receives a nut 1 4 torsecuring the yoke thereon ,and clamping saidyoke 'against' the bottomedge of the box 1. The

wall of this opening 12 may, if desired, be threaded to engage thethreads of stem 2.

The arms 11 and 13 correspond substantially in length and width and thearms 11 are slidably adjustable. on the arms 13 to adapt the length ofthe yoke' to be varied as required. Each arm 13 is provided with and theouter endsof the arms 13 may, un-v del; such conditions, be arranged toseat may thereby be properly positioned .for reg' a longitudinal guideslot 15'and L-shaped guide fingers 16, and each arm 13 is provided atits inner and outer ends, respectively, with threaded openings 17 and18y to receive the clamping screws 19 and the ceilingl band fasteningscrewsS, respectively.

- The screws 19 of the arms 11 pass through the slots 15 in the arms 13and serve in conjunction with the fingers 16 as guiding means for thearms 11, as well as a means by' which said arms 1l may be clamped inadjusted position to the arms 13. The openings 18 are designed toregister with the openings 7 in the ceiling band 4 and to receive thescrews 8'passing upward through the openings 7, whereby the ceiling bandis fastened to the yoke. In practice, the length of the fixed body orcentral section of the yoke may be such as ,to extend entirely acrossand slightly beyond opposite sides of a box 1 of fixed size, allowingadjustment of= the arms or sections l1 foi` attachmentof ceiling bandsof varying diameters thereto,

within the usual notches above-mentioned in the edge of the box1,'fforming` a locking con-` nection supplementing that of the nut 14 to4'hold the yoke'in a fixed position and against any possibility ofdisplacement.

vItrwill be observed from the foregoing that when the yoke-is fitted inposition up.- on the stem 2 and against the lower edge of the box 1, thearms 11 maybe adjusted for supporting any given size of ceiling band 4and secured in adjusted position by tightening the screws 19, which, inthe adjustment of the arms 11, slide in the slots 15.'

The openings 1,8 in the extension arms 11 ister with the openings 7 ofthe size of ceiling band 4 to be employed, whereupon by simplyl applyingthe screws 8 the ceiling band will be fastened in position. As the yoke9 is heldfixed upon the stem l2 and clamped "against the box 1,'it willbe ap- `parent that the yoke will be firmly fastened in position,affording a reliable 'andsecure sugp ort for the ceiling band 4 and theglobeJA or s ade carried thereby.'

An vadjustable yoke of theicharacter de-AV scribed may', it is evident,be used in connectlon with any conventional type of Junction DQX or panand ceiling band without structural changes inthe box or band, and by1t's use the `1 eeessity of employing a specie hed size of junction boxwith a speclied size Aof ceiling band is avoided, as a junction box orpanof any given size may be, employed in connection with ceiling bandsvarying to a greater or less extent in size. As a result, thedifficulties and inconveniences ordinarily encountered, as hereinbeforestated, will be Ventirely obviated and the necessity of carrying amultiplicity of sizes of junction boxes and matching sizes of ceilingbands overcome, with manifest-advantage to the elec` trieal contractoror fixture hanger. The device also ensures saving of time and otheradded conveniences in installation work, inasmuch as the yoke may beapplied and adjusted for any given size of ceiling band 'Y in a veryrapid and convenient manner.

s l tion, I claim y AHaving thus fully described my inventhe extensionarms, and screws adapted for engagement withthe openings in the outer ofthe ceiling band thereto.

.ends of said extension arms for attachment 2. TheV combination withvajunction box,

a fixture supporting stem carried lthereby,

`and a ceiling band, of an adjustablel yoke for supporting the ceilingband from said junction box and stem, said yoke comprising a centralsection havingl an openlng receiving the -stem and provided withdiametrically extending arms, each provided with guide members andhaving a, longitudinal slot therein, said arms` extending beneath theedge of the junction box, extension arms slidably engaging said slottedarms and provided with threaded openings at their inner and outer ends,screws passing through the slots in the slotted arms and engaging thethreaded openings at the inner ends of the extension arms'for adjustablyfastening the same to said slotted arms,

`sci ews passing through the. ceiling band and the threaded openings inthe outer ends of the extension arms and fastening the band,

c thereto, and- 'alfastening member engaging the'stem and holding theyoke thereto and clamped againstlthejunction box.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

WILLIAM A. sroTT.

